UNITED WAY OF FREDERICK COUNTY - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Resource Development Committee Co - Chair / M & T Bank

Job Titles:

• Resource Development Committee Co - Chair

Job Titles:

• Director of Finance

David Bausum is the Director of Finance for United Way of Frederick County (UWFC). He is responsible for the oversight and accuracy of all the accounting/bookkeeping functions; as well as maintaining the donor database. He is also responsible for budgeting and producing reports for staff, committees, board of directors, donors, government, auditors, and other stakeholders. Before coming to UWFC in 2014, he had been the president of a local Kitchen & Bath Company for many years, winning many awards for "Outstanding Customer Service." He is an alumni of the University of Maryland graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Accounting. He resides in Myersville with his wife and two grown children and serves as treasurer of the church where he attends.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Vice Chair of the Board

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Board Secretary / Frederick Community College

Job Titles:

• Director of Resource Development and Marketing

Erin Lawson is the Director of Resource Development & Marketing at United Way of Frederick County (UWFC). She raises funds to support UWFC's mission and community impact efforts. She is dedicated to inspiring individuals and organizations to support our fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Frederick County. The position collaborates with UWFC colleagues to foster year-round supporter engagement through communications, events, volunteering, and advocacy, and then utilize their relationship management and donor stewardship skills to offer the right community impact investment opportunities to the right donor at the right time. The position employs effective fundraising strategies and tactics to execute a successful Workplace Campaign, solicit additional support through sponsorships and grants, and increase the number of leadership donors who are interested in having an even greater impact. Most importantly, thank and recognize our supporters for their generous contributions. Erin Lawson's experience in sales, marketing, and fundraising are well utilized in her role as UWFC's Director of Resource Development & Marketing. Early in her career, Erin worked in retail at Walt Disney World and was quickly promoted into management. She also worked for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars as a "Street Team" Captain, representing the team at community events and home games to improve fan engagement and increase the number of season ticket holders. Erin got to know our community while working for the Frederick Keys Minor League Baseball team. She developed programs, promotions, and events to expand and engage her audience. She also handled partnerships and sponsorship opportunities, working closely with businesses, nonprofits, and community members. She is especially proud of her work with the Frederick Keys "Pack the Park" program that featured nonprofits at home games to grow awareness and support of their important missions. Erin's dedication to helping nonprofits succeed led UWFC to recruit her as a volunteer for the Day of Action Steering Committee, which is how she learned more about United Way and became interested in one day joining the team. While working with nonprofits during her time at the Frederick Keys, Erin was especially touched by her interactions with families who had been affected by childhood cancer. One of those connections led her to the American Childhood Cancer Organization. She served as their Corporate Partnerships Manager, working with companies and individuals across the country to grow awareness of childhood cancer and raise the revenue required to continue providing valuable support to those affected. Erin has a passion for helping others through any challenges they may be facing. She is committed to giving her time and talents to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Frederick County. She graduated from Indiana University with a major in Sport Marketing & Management and a double minor (one in Business and one in Marketing). Erin married a native Fredericktonian, and then relocated from Florida to Frederick to be closer to family. She lives in New Market with her husband, son, and two dogs.

Job Titles:

• Chairman of the Finance Committee
• Board Treasurer / Finance Committee Chair

Job Titles:

• Manager of Community Impact
• Manager of Community Impact & Grants

Joe Kunkel is the Manager of Community Impact and Grants for United Way of Frederick County (UWFC). He is responsible for managing the Prosperity Center programs and resources that help more Frederick County community members lead healthy lives, achieve their full potential through education, and become financially stable and independent. Prior to being part of the UWFC team, Joe was CEO of Neighbor to Neighbor of South Carolina, Inc., where he grew his leadership skills, managed grant proposals, and developed programs for 10 years. During his tenure, he became an advocate for seniors and adults with disabilities at the state level and helped coordinate services by breaking technological barriers between service partners. After spending 13 years in South Carolina, Joe is excited to return to Maryland. He is originally from Carroll County and graduated from Salisbury University. Joe enjoys taking photos of deep space objects, riding his bike, and playing guitar. He is also a licensed social worker, earning his MSW from the University of South Carolina. He lives in Ballenger Creek with his wife and two children, who love playing at the playground, hide and seek, and card games.

Job Titles:

• VITA Manager

Job Titles:

• Community Impact Committee Chair

Job Titles:

• Director of Operations

Joyce Kwamena-Poh is the Director of Operations at United Way of Frederick County (UWFC). Joyce is a seasoned administrative professional with significant experience working in nonprofit organizations. As United Way of Frederick County's Director of Operations, she is responsible for a broad range of functions including human resource administration, board relations and office management. Joyce manages the Prosperity Center Match Savings Program (Pathway to Homeownership and Pathway to Transportation). This position also helps manage Stuff the Bus program. Prior to joining United Way of Frederick County in January 2014, Joyce worked at SNV USA (Bethesda), Interfaith Housing Alliance, Africa Action (D.C.), the African Services Committee, Inc. (NY), and USAID/Ghana, among others. Her goal is to utilize her skills to help support United Way of Frederick County's mission and grow professionally. Joyce holds a BA in Social Sciences from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana), and a Master's in Public Administration from Columbia University (NY). Joyce is originally from Ghana and has been a resident of Frederick County since 2003. She lives with her daughter, Nana Amma.

Job Titles:

• CEO
• President

Job Titles:

• Network ( RUN ) Coordinator
• Ride United Network ( RUN ) Coordinator

Landen Lombardo is the Ride United Network (RUN) Coordinator at United Way of Frederick County (UWFC). He oversees the vision, strategy and potential of the Ride United Network (RUN), a Collective Impact transportation program that provides flexible transportation options for ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) families in Frederick County. He manages and monitors relationships with RUN Ride Providers, provides program training to partner agencies, and helps assess, allocate, and distribute free and discounted ride-share coupon codes to partner agencies and businesses. Landen is a dedicated, compassionate self-starter with a passion for building relationships and advocating for our most vulnerable neighbors. His experience in the nonprofit sector and engagement with the local community make him the ideal fit for this position. Most recently, Landen served as the Community Impact Intern at UWFC. He organized and gathered community partners for the annual Stuff the Bus school supply drive and assisted in supporting Prosperity Center programs. Before UWFC, Landen served as a Support and Advocacy Group Intern with HiTops, a nonprofit that provides youth-informed sex education and LGBTQ+ support for young people throughout New Jersey. There, he supported various events and activities to promote LGBTQ+ youth & young adults. Landen also served as a student Aid at TCNJ's Department of Sociology and Anthropology and as a Youth Camp Counselor with the YMCA of Frederick County in Ijamsville. Landen grew up in Frederick County and is a graduate of Urbana High School. He is excited to be back in his hometown to help improve the lives of his local ALICE neighbors. Landen is currently a senior at The College of New Jersey. He graduated in 2023 with a Bachelor's degree, double majoring in Sociology and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. In his free time, Landen enjoys attending concerts and going hiking. He currently lives in Ijamsville with his family and their dog.

Job Titles:

• Chairman of the Board
• Member of the Executive Committee

Job Titles:

• Governance Committee Co - Chair / Retired Non - Profit Executive

Job Titles:

• Member of the Executive Committee
• Immediate past Chair of the Board

Job Titles:

• Co - Facilitator, Getting Ahead

Job Titles:

• Co - Facilitator, Getting Ahead

Job Titles:

• Assistant
• Volunteer Assistant

Serena Balassi is a dedicated Volunteer Assistant at the United Way of Frederick County, serving in the AmeriCorps to make a positive impact on her community. Serena's key responsibilities at UWFC include managing the JustServe volunteer platform, which plays a crucial role in connecting volunteers with meaningful projects in the community. Additionally, she contributes her skills to the Resource Development & Marketing department, furthering the organization's mission to create lasting change in Frederick County. Originally hailing from New York, Serena has a strong background in nonprofit administration. Her journey to Frederick, Maryland began in 2020 when she decided to pursue her higher education at Hood College. As she prepares to graduate with a degree in accounting and a minor in nonprofit civic engagement, Serena's commitment to making a difference in the nonprofit sector shines through. Before joining the UWFC team, Serena held significant roles in the nonprofit sector. She served as the Head of Finance for Centennial Memorial United Methodist Church and as the Assistant Director of Centennial Early Learning Center in Downtown Frederick. Regardless of the position, she works with a passion for helping others achieve their goals and using her talents to provide them with the tools they need to succeed. Outside of her professional pursuits, Serena enjoys life in Frederick, where she resides with her boyfriend. She has a heart for animals and hopes to welcome many pets into their home in the near future.

Job Titles:

• Government Committee Co - Chair

Job Titles:

• Resource Development & Outreach Associate

Tessa Joseph is the Resource Development & Outreach Associate at United Way of Frederick County (UWFC). In this position, Tessa plays a critical role in developing and executing integrated marketing and communications campaigns that create greater awareness and understanding of UWFC's mission, foster volunteer and donor engagement, and enhance the organization's reputation as a respected community leader. Tessa comes to the UWFC team with experience in marketing and sales. In her past role as the Sales and Marketing Manager at Visit Frederick, she was responsible for sales and marketing efforts, including membership and group sales. In her role, she also assisted in the promotion of events throughout Frederick County and in the organization of two important local events - Museums by Candlelight and Historic Houses of Worship. Prior to her work at Visit Frederick, Tessa served as the Executive Director of Explore Naples, NY - a destination marketing organization in upstate New York. She holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York. Tessa resides in Frederick with her boyfriend and beloved dog and cat.